Ditching machine



May 2%, 11923.

J. 5. DORZEMIRE DITCHING MACHINE Filed 001;. 20. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l [Way 29, 11923.

J. s.- DOREMIRE DITCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 29, 1923'.

J. S. DOREMIRE DITGHING MACHINE Filed 001;. 20, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 29, 1923..

entree er iasaaa JOHN S. DOB-EMIEE, OF 'CHALIVIFRS, INDTANA.

DITCHING MACHINE.

Application filed October 20, 1921. Serial No. 509,105.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JOHN S. DOREMIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chalmers, in the county of White and State of Indiana, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in a ditching machine and has for its primary object the provision of a machine of this character which will be constructed in such a manner that the ditch may be readily formed by the cutting blade which serves to throw the dirt from upon the lower end of the elevator, from which it is carried by the transverse conveyor to the side of the ditch, the cutting blade'being mounted in such a manner at the forward end of the elevator as to be automatically adjustable to properly cut through the soil and form the ditch.

The invention has for another object the provision of a ditching machine of the character stated which will be of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, in which the parts will be arranged so as to give the proper pull or strain upon the cutting blade, regardless of the depth of the ditch and the corresponding angle of the incline of the cutting blade, thereby causing the elevator and the conveyor to follow the cutting blade without exerting any unnecessary strain or exertion upon the latter.

The invention has fora further object the provision of aditching machine of the character stated in which the cutting blade carrying beam will have pivotal connection with the forward end of the elevator frame mounted on the axle carrying the ground wheels near the rear end of the elevator and forwardly of the transverse conveyor mounted beneath the upper end of the elevator conveyor, thereby properly connecting all of the parts of the device so that the machine may be properly guided by the assistance of the adjustably mounted forward guide wheel depending beneath the beam at a point between the cutting blade and the forward end of the beams on which is mounted the upstanding clevis receiving member for the draft element supporting clevis, the connect- Q ed parts of the machine being properly braced so as to assure full cooperation of the various operative parts to attain the highest efliciency for the machine.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a ditching machine of the character set forth in which will be mounted novel supporting beams and a novel form of blade mounted thereon as well as a special connection between the said beams and the forward end of the elevator frame, so as to permit of proper swinging movement of these partswith respect to one another for automatic adjustment of the incline of the cutting blade, which latter is preferably wider at its lower portion to provide for a proper cutting of the ditch and prevent binding of the sides of the elevator frame against the inner side walls'of the ditch as this frame depends with the ditch, during the operation of the machine.

The invention has for still another object the provision of a novel form of ditching iachine of the character set forth in which theelevator and the transverse conveyor may be readily operated from the axle of the machine during operation of the machine over the ditch being formed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction. combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present application and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the im proved form of ditching machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the machine with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail elevation of the rear portion of the machine, showing the 95 driving means for the elevator and the transverse conveyor.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, with portions of the elevator and conveyor broken away, this view showing 100 the operating means for the partsof the machine.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation of the cutting blade. I

. the direction indicated by the arrows.

.Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the cutting blade which is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, decreasing slightly in width towards its upper end and having the pointed lower edge 1, as clearly shown.

The advantage of thisform of cutting blade will be apparent, as it is evident that such a blade when. mounted on the turned and forwardly anddownwardly directed end 2 of the rearwardly diverging beam'B, will result in cutting aditch or channel which will be the same width from top to bottom. The width of the blade 1 at its widest por tion is more than equal to the width of any part of the machine which may enter the ditch, thereby preventing all possibility of the machine or" any part thereof binding againstthe inner-walls of the ditch or channel during the cutting operation. This may be better understood as the description proceeds; I

The, main portions of the beam 3 are inclined downwardly and slightly decreasing in size toward theirconnectedforward end,

I as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The standard 4- extends upwardly from the connected forward ends oftheb'eams 8, as shown in Fig. 1-, and is provided with a series of spaced openings 5 within which may be secured the draft. supporting clevis 6 for the draft mechanism ordraft element 7. This makesit possible to readily adjust the position of the clevji's 6 vertically on the standard 4:, accord ing to the depth of the ditch or channel and the incline of the cutting blade'l. A suitable bracing'member Smay be connected with the upper end of the standard 1 and with the beams 3', as shown in Fig. 1, 130 properly brace and support the standard 4. A rear wardly directed -resilient seat supporting ineniber;9 is connected at its lower end with theseparated rear ends of thebeams 3, ad jacent the pointat which these beams are curved and directed downwardly and-for-' wardly, as previously stated, the member 9 serving to support on its upper end the driv-" ers: seat10 rearwardly of the blade 1 as shown-clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Inorder to properly guide the machine and also regulate the depth of out of the blade Lethe forward guide wheel ll is em ployed this wheel being mounted on the forward axle 12 carried in the bent or turned portioir of the angular supporting member 13' extended between and projecting below the beams dgas shown in the drawings. One.

arm of the member 13 is directed forwardly and-secured between the beams 3, as shown at 13 While the remaining arm 14: thereof is extended upwardly between the beamsB and pivotally connected with the adjusting arm 15. This arm 15 is rigidly mounted on a shaft'lti having bearings 16 provided therefor on the upper edge-of the beams, 8, near ment 19,which latter is also rigidly mounted on the beams 3. The lever 17 has a releasing linger 20 connected ina suitable manner with the locking finger 18 so as to withdraw the latterrfrom the rack segment 19 when it is desired to operate the lever 17 for adjustment of the wheel 11 with respect tothe beanfis S i The downwardly and-forwardly rear turned ends 2 ofthe beams 3 have rearwardly directed perforated ears 21', through which the shaft is extended. The shaft 22 also projects through the lower forward ends of the elevator frame members 23, positionedbetween the ends 20f the beams 3, thereby forming a pivotal connectionzbetween the beams 8 and the elevator structure. This shaft 22 also serves as'the lower shaftof the elevator and carries aroller 24 which serves, together with the upper roller 24: of the elevator, mounted on the upper elevator shaft 26,- to support the elevatorbelt 27 having the usual transverse members-or steps 28, so that the elevator may serve to carry upwardly and discharge from its upper endthe dirt deposited thereon by theblade 1,!tlielower end ,ture and the beams 3, these brace bars 29 being positioned on opposite sides of the machine and having their forward ends pivotal connected with the curved portions of the beams "23 whiletheir rear ends are loosely connected with the side frame members 23 of' the elevator structure, as shown clearly in the drawings; Mounted in suitable bear- 30 beneaththe upp'errearend portions of the elevator structureyis the rear axle 31 which extends transversely of the elevator. as clearly shown in the drawings and has mounted on its extended end portion the ground wheels321 This-rear axle 31' prefer ably has the wheels 32 rigidly mounted thereon and carries a" drive gear 33, mesh-- ing with the gear wheel 34on the stub-shaft 35 also carried atthe lower-portionofthe elevator frame structure, asshown in' Figs.

1 and 4.- Itwill therefore be seen that as the 1,4.5e,5ee

engaged therearound. This sprocket chain 37 also engages the sprocket wheel 38 on the upper shaft 26 of the elevator. The upper shaft 26 of the elevator has an extended end with a belt pulley 39 mounted thereon to accommodate the drive belt 40 extended therearound and around the corresponding belt pulley 41 carried by the shaft 42 of the trans verse conveyor employed for conveying the dirt to the side of the ditch and discharging the same. This conveyor 42 carries one end roller 43 of'the transverse conveyor belt and around which rollers the conveyor belt 44 is engaged. The belt 44 has the usual transverse members or steps 45 mounted thereon, as shown in the drawings. Both of the rollers 48 on the end shafts 42 are given the same numbers and the shafts 42 extend through the longitudinal frame members 46 of the transverse conveyor structure. The conveyor structure is suspended from the upper rear end of the elevator by suitable suspending bracket members 47 as shown in the drawings. It is also to be noted from 1 of the drawings that the transverse discharge conveyor structure is of such length as to extend for a short distance to one side of the machine and pass the ground wheel 32 for this side of the machine. It will be evident from the description of the operating means for the conveyor and the elevator of this machine that both of the parts will be operated automatically in the proper direction as the machine moves over the surface for digging the ditch or channel, without the necessity of providing any other auxiliary operating mechanism.

It is believed the complete'construction and operation of this machine may now be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in connection with the accompanying drawings without further detailed description. The operation may be briefly stated, as follows. After proper adjustment of the clevis 6 on the standard 4 and the wheel 11 by proper placing of the adjusting lever 17 the machine may be drawn over the ground and the cutting blade 1 will enter the ground properly, extending the desired distance into the same and riding on the proper angle or incline to cut the channel or ditch desired, the width of the lower or cutting end of the blade being of increased width so as to provide a ditch or channel of suificient width to prevent the sides of the elevator frame and the beams 3 from binding upon the side walls of the ditch or channel as they depend into the latter as the machine moves over the surface. rotation of the ground wheel 32 and the rear male 31. will cause proper operation of the elevator belt 27 and the conveyor belt 44, as previously stated so as to cerry upwardly the dirt deposited on the elevator by the cutting blade 1 and then carry the dirt to the side of the ditch and discharge the dirt at a desired distance from the side of the ditch, as previously stated. It is beheved that further description is unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit'of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A ditching machine comprising supporting beams having turned and separated end portions, a cutting blade mounted on said end portions. draft element supporting beams mounted on the opposite end portions of said beams, a depth regulating and guiding member mounted adjustably in said beams, means for controlling the last mentioned member, a drivers seat mounted on said beams and rearwardly of said cutting member, an elevator? structure pivoted at its lower end to said turned and separated ends of the beams opposite said. cutting member, and a transverse discharge conveyor suspended beneath the upper end of said conveyor to receive material therefrom.

2. A ditching machine rearwardly diverging beams connected at their forward ends, a standard mounted on the forward ends of said beams, bracing means for said standard, said standard being adapted to have a draft element adjustably mounted thereon, a depth regulating and. guide wheel, means for adjustably mounting said wheel beneath said beams, means for regulating the position of said wheel, said beams having turned rear ends directed forwardly and downwardly, a cutting blade mounted on said last mentioned ends of the beams, the cutting blade having a pointed lower edge and decreasing gradually in width towards its upper end, the wider portion of the cutting blade extending past the sides of said beams, an elevator structure having its lower end portion pivoted between the turned lower ends of said. beams, bracing connections between said beams and said elevator structure, and a discharge conveyor extended to one side of the machine and having an end portion suspended beneath the upper end of said conveyor structure.

3. A ditching machine comprising supporting beams, an elevator structure pivotally connected at its lower forward end to the supporting beams. means carried by said beams to receive a draft element. means for tilting said beams and varying the respective inclinations of said beams and said elevator structure, a cutting element depending from said beams, the incline of said cutting element being varied with the tilting of said beams, the rear supporting axle for the machine mounted transversely elevator structure, ground Wheels rigid With In testimony whereo beneath the upper portion of said elevator connections between the elevator proper structure, driving connections between said and the conveyor proper of said'conveyor rear axle andthe elevator. proper of saidstructure'. 10

f I affix my sigseid rear axle, a side delivery conveyor nature. structure suspended from the upper portion of the elevator structure, and driving e JOHNS. DOREMIRE. 

